It's finally Week One!! All the scrimmages are in the books, so let's take a look at our first Super 12 High School Football Poll of 2025!
#1 -- VARINA (12-2, Class 4 State Runner-Up): A star quarterback, an embarrassment of riches at running back, a stingy defense. It's a recipe for another run to Liberty University in December...except the Blue Devils are in the toughest region in the Commonwealth. They'll have to deal with the likes of Huguenot, Dinwiddie, Louisa, and many others, and succeed in the gauntlet, in order to get to December, and don't be surprised if they end up seeing Phoebus, the team that defeated them last year in the title game, once again. But first....
#2 -- HUGUENOT (11-1, lost to Varina in Region 4B Semifinal): They're experienced, with ridiculous talent across the board, and the Blue Devils taught them why there's a big difference between the regular season and the postseason last year. They've been in the laboratory since that defeat, and are ready to take their shot to dethrone Varina and move on to December themselves. Adding St. Christopher's to their schedule, whom they host this Friday, was a great move. Being in the Dominion District, landlocked to just one non-district game, you need a quality opponent to help you prepare for crunch time.
#3 -- HIGHLAND SPRINGS (9-4, lost to Oscar Smith in Region 6A Championship): By Highland Springs standards, it's been a very quiet offseason in the grand scheme of things in the region. They return to Class 5 this year, but don't think it makes it suddenly easier for them to return to a title. The Springers have a monster schedule, as always, and our "Feel Good" friend Sean Robertson says he's hearing echoes of 2017, when a group of "August unknowns" became December heroes when they captured their third of four straight VHSL championships. We think the Springers don't mind that all the chatter from fans this offseason has been about that other school in Eastern Henrico. Oh, and the photo below? That's head coach Loren Johnson bringing the 2015 Springers onto the field at Scott Stadium, the site of their first state crown. Ten years already. Hard to believe!
#4 -- BENEDICTINE (9-3, VISAA Division I Champions): A changing of the guard over at Bobby Ross as Greg Lilly steps away as head coach after 94 wins, handing the reins to Kurt Von Bargen, who knows what he's got in quarterback Carson Lambert. They can expect another season of top competition, starting with the rapidly ascending St. Michael the Archangel from Fredericksburg, who defeated the Cadets on opening day last year. But Benedictine got the final word, defeating them the state championship game in November. Trinity Episcopal, St. Christopher's, another battle with Gonzaga, and a Week 2 showdown against Matoaca. Nothing will come easy for the Cadets, but they can win it all again.
#5 -- DINWIDDIE (11-2, lost to Varina in Region 4B Championship): Yes, the Harry Dalton era is over. But, a cursory look at the history of the Generals under Billy Mills shows one of the best "next man up" mentalities in a program in the Commonwealth. Enter Zion Boisseau, who seems quite ready to step in and guide the Generals back into the playoffs. Fans should realize it might take a little time to get the offense in gear, but it'll do so. We believe better defense will be key to carrying Dinwiddie far in 2025.
#6 -- THOMAS DALE (6-5, lost to Manchester in Region 6A Quarterfinal): Everybody seems to be sleeping on the Knights. 2024 was a difficult campaign in Chester with a ton of injuries. But they didn't keep Thomas Dale from being competitive, falling by seven to Dinwiddie, and losing by eleven in the playoff game against the Lancers. Now, there's reason for Kevin Tucker to be very excited about this fall. If the Knights avoid the injury bug, the combination of returning players from said injuries and now experienced youngsters who had to grow up fast last fall will give Tucker a ton of firepower on both sides of the ball. In a brutally tough Central District, never forget about Thomas Dale.
#7 -- LOUISA (9-3, lost to William Fleming in Region 5C Semifinal): We've known for a long time that Dyzier Carter is headed to Rutgers. Now, with Savion Hiter's announcement this week that's he's headed to Michigan, the Lions can now focus completely on unfinished business. Their opening night loss a year ago to a Patrick Henry team that finished 2-8, a game riddled by storm delays and horrible play (penalties) by the Lions in the first half. The game started Friday and ended Saturday. We didn't know it then, but Louisa was behind the eight ball the rest of the way, having to travel to both Midlothian, then William Fleming in the playoffs. No "Jungle" advantage. They'll need it this year as they return to rugged Region 4B. We know they can run the ball. A good passing game and a better defense will be key to see if the Lions can finally climb the mountain in Class 4.
#8 -- TRINITY EPISCOPAL (5-4, lost to Benedictine in VISAA Division I Semifinal): One point. After getting routed a week earlier in their regular season finale to rival Benedictine, they fell 29-28 in the postseason rematch. As Benedictine did, the Titans fell to both St. Michael the Archangel and to Woodberry Forest. Head Coach Sam Mickens has plenty of firepower on both sides of the ball, and plenty of gunpowder for the cannon to help the Titans achieve a return to recent past glory and, maybe, another state championship.
#9 -- MANCHESTER (8-5, lost to Oscar Smith in Region 6A Semifinal): A full offseason for head coach Jason Harrell, and a fourth-year starter under center in Landon Abernathy, who is ready to prove that he is ready to lead the Lancers to a deeper postseason run, as well as proving he's ready for the next level. Highland Springs leaves Class 6, but L.C. Bird moves up, so that October 10th trip to Chester looms large, as does a September 5th trip across the river against the team right below them.....
#10 -- GLEN ALLEN (10-2, lost to Highland Springs in Region 6A Semifinal): By far the best season in Jaguar history came in 2024. Yes, Varina brought them down to earth after the first 5-0 start in program history, but they walloped Western Branch in the first round of the Class 6, Region A playoffs, and fell to power Highland Springs by just three points. Of all the western Henrico schools, it's the Jaguars with the most momentum heading into 2025. The name to watch is junior quarterback Ralphie Puccinelli. If his line can keep him upright, look out for the Jaguar offense this season. The front half of their schedule is tough, hosting improving Prince George and #9 Manchester before trips to Patrick Henry and #6 Thomas Dale. They finish September hosting Hampton. Can they start 5-0 again?
#11 -- THOMAS JEFFERSON (12-1, lost to Kettle Run in Region 3A Championship): An undefeated regular season. A three-point heartbreaking loss with a trip to the Class 3 semifinals on the line. A spectacular season for a Viking program that, a decade or so earlier, struggled to put a competitive team on the field. Now with their move to Class 2, the hopes and dreams of a state championship from Viking fans grows louder, and their team has plenty of reason for hope. Their lightning fast offense will continue despite losses to graduation. I.C. Norcom will be a quality opening opponent this Friday. Battle for supremacy atop Region 2A hosting Armstrong the following week will set the stage for who has the inside track to a great seeding in this field.
#12 -- MATOACA (10-2, lost to L.C. Bird in Region 5C Semifinal): They're in the tough Central District, and they lost a lot of star firepower which will be on full display on Saturdays over the next four years. But much respect must be given to, perhaps, the most improved football program in the "Central Region" since the full return of the sport post-COVID. Their youngsters must grow up fast, as the schedule is brutal, beginning with a trip to Hermitage Thursday, followed by fellow ranked teams in Benedictine and Louisa. When they finally step into the Central? It's a trip to Dinwiddie, then hosting Petersburg and a trip to Thomas Dale. If the Warriors can come out of that stretch 4-2 or better, they will be well prepared come playoff time even if such a difficult schedule may cost them in seeding.
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ON THE CUSP: L.C. Bird, Hopewell, Midlothian, Hermitage, St. Christopher's, Armstrong, Powhatan, Douglas Freeman, Atlee, Hanover, Prince George, Caroline
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